PBS Shuts Weekend Newscasts Amid $1.1 Billion Funding Cut

Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) has ceased its weekend newscasts due to a significant reduction in federal funding. As a result of the government’s cut of $1.1 billion to public broadcasting, PBS will replace its Saturday and Sunday broadcasts with two new programs focused on specific subjects. Starting next weekend, viewers can expect “Horizons,” which will cover science and technology, and “Compass Points,” dedicated to foreign affairs.

The decision to discontinue “PBS News Weekend” was announced by anchor John Yang, who indicated that the show has signed off “at least for the foreseeable future.” This weekend counterpart to “PBS NewsHour” began airing in 2013 before relocating to Washington, D.C., in 2022. The shift is part of a broader strategy to cut costs by reducing the number of staff working on weekends, as both new shows will be pre-recorded during the week.

The viewer numbers for the weekend newscast averaged 827,000, which is approximately 1 million less than the weekday broadcasts, according to data from Nielsen. The funding cuts were enacted by a Republican-controlled Congress in response to President Donald Trump‘s push to eliminate financial support for PBS and NPR. Trump has criticized public broadcasting for allegedly biasing its news coverage against conservatives.

During the final airing of the weekend newscast, PBS highlighted major stories that had unfolded over weekends, including the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023, an assassination attempt on Trump in the summer of 2024, and Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential race a few weeks later. When asked about the possibility of the weekend newscasts returning if funding is restored, Sara Just, senior executive producer for “NewsHour,” stated, “I never say never, but this is not a temporary decision.”

In addition to the cancellation of the weekend broadcasts, PBS has also closed its bureau in Arizona, which previously allowed “NewsHour” to update its programming for West Coast viewers. Despite these changes, Just assured the public that the weekday newscast remains secure. She emphasized that through platforms like TikTok and YouTube, PBS is enhancing its journalistic visibility.

Both “Horizons” and “Compass Points” will have a runtime of 30 minutes. “Horizons,” hosted by William Brangham, will focus on a single scientific topic each week, such as artificial intelligence, climate science, or medical innovations. “Compass Points,” with host Nick Schifrin, will similarly concentrate on one theme per episode.

As PBS navigates these substantial funding challenges, the transition to specialized programming reflects an adaptive approach to maintaining its educational mission while facing financial constraints.